The UN humanitarian chief has urged Israel to open more crossings into Gaza to allow a surge of aid, after Israel warned it would limit supplies into the territory over delays from Hamas in releasing the bodies of deceased hostages.
Tom Fletcher called on both Israel and Hamas to implement the terms of the ceasefire agreement, saying it was essential that we do not squander the immense progress made through the US-brokered deal.
There has been growing anger in Israel over the delayed return of hostages' bodies, and the key Rafah crossing between Egypt and southern Gaza remained closed on Wednesday.
In Gaza, people have been stockpiling food as prices surge over fears the ceasefire may not hold.
Humanitarian aid has been entering Gaza since the ceasefire deal took effect on 10 October, but Israel threatened to restrict supplies after Hamas did not return the bodies of all 28 deceased hostages by Monday, as agreed. Hamas says it has had difficulty locating the remains.
So far, seven hostages' bodies have been returned to Israel from Gaza. Hamas said it would return two more bodies later on Wednesday.
In a post on X, Fletcher said Hamas must make strenuous efforts to return all the bodies of the deceased hostages. He added: As Israel has agreed, they must allow the massive surge of humanitarian aid - thousands of trucks a week - on which so many lives depend, and on which the world has insisted.
He called for more crossings open and a genuine, practical, problem-solving approach to removing remaining obstacles and said withholding aid from civilians is not a bargaining chip.
The Rafah crossing has largely remained closed since fighting broke out after the 7 October 2023 attacks.
Meanwhile, an official from Cogat, the Israeli military body in charge of aid for Gaza, stated that humanitarian aid will not pass through the Rafah crossing. No such agreement has been reached at any stage.
The UN chief also expressed grave concern regarding reported violence against civilians in Gaza, noting incidents of masked Hamas gunmen executing eight Palestinians in public.
Reports from Gaza indicated that food prices are surging as residents fear the ceasefire may collapse. Traders in the enclave have been accused of hoarding food items to drive up profits, with locals expressing deep mistrust toward the stability of the ceasefire.
As negotiators in Egypt work to solidify the ceasefire deal, the situation remains tense with casualties reported during exchanges between Israeli forces and Gaza militants.
With uncertainty prevailing, residents like Neven Al-Mughrabi and Khaled Halas share their struggles as they navigate life in the shadow of potential renewed conflict in Gaza.
